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Lignin: Modifications and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 1841

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
LERMAB, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
Interests: lignin; nanolignin; hemicellulose; cellulose; pre-treatment process; organoslv; steam-explosion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, constituting 30% of terrestrial non-fossil organic matter. It has proved to be a promising natural resource for replacing fossil fuels. However, the valorisation of lignin is hampered by a series of constraints such as its recalcitrance, heterogeneous structure, odour, colour, and the challenges associated with its extraction because of the presence of strong chemical bonds. Today, industrial lignin is mainly burnt to produce electricity and to valorise the inorganic compounds involved in the pulping process.

This Special Issue will explore the extraction of lignin using various pre-treatments, its modifications and functionalisations, and new ways of adding value to this polymer. In view of your important contributions in this field, I cordially invite you to submit an article to this Special Issue. Full research papers, communications, and review articles will be accepted. I would like to bring together a collection of full papers from leading experts and up-to-date research from notable groups in the community.

Dr. Isabelle Ziegler-Devin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • lignin
  • lignin nanoparticles
  • pretreatment
  • extraction
  • valorisation
  • modification
  • functionalisation
  • bio-based product
  • biomaterials
  • depolymerisation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Lignin Biopolymer Sources, Isolation, and Size Reduction from the Macro- to Nanoscale on the Performances of Next-Generation Sunscreen
by Victor Girard, Léane Fragnières, Hubert Chapuis, Nicolas Brosse, Laurent Marchal-Heussler, Nadia Canilho, Stéphane Parant and Isabelle Ziegler-Devin
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131901 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1266
Abstract
In recent years, concerns about the harmful effects of synthetic UV filters on the environment have highlighted the need for natural sun blockers. Lignin, the most abundant aromatic renewable biopolymer on Earth, is a promising candidate for next-generation sunscreen due to its inherent [...] Read more.
In recent years, concerns about the harmful effects of synthetic UV filters on the environment have highlighted the need for natural sun blockers. Lignin, the most abundant aromatic renewable biopolymer on Earth, is a promising candidate for next-generation sunscreen due to its inherent UV absorbance and its green, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. Lignin’s limitations, such as its dark color and poor dispersity, can be overcome by reducing particle size to the nanoscale, enhancing UV protection and formulation. In this study, 100–200 nm lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were prepared from various biomass by-products (hardwood, softwood, and herbaceous material) using an eco-friendly anti-solvent precipitation method. Pure lignin macroparticles (LMPs) were extracted from beech, spruce, and wheat straw using an ethanol–organosolv treatment and compared with sulfur-rich kraft lignin (KL). Sunscreen lotions made from these LMPs and LNPs at various concentrations demonstrated novel UV-shielding properties based on biomass source and particle size. The results showed that transitioning from the macro- to nanoscale increased the sun protection factor (SPF) by at least 2.5 times, with the best results improving the SPF from 7.5 to 42 for wheat straw LMPs and LNPs at 5 wt%. This study underscores lignin’s potential in developing high-quality green sunscreens, aligning with green chemistry principles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignin: Modifications and Applications)
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